Agri sector posts 1.5% growth

MANILA, Philippines - The agriculture sector grew 1.5 percent in 2013, driven by gains in the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors.

However, last year’s farm growth was slower than the revised growth rate of 2.89 percent in 2012.

At current prices, the farm sector output grossed P1.5 trillion, up 3.51 percent from the 2012 production value of around P1.4 trillion.

“Considering a very challenging year, this growth is significant,”said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

“It also reminds us how weather-dependent agriculture is, and therefore the need to promote and support diversification and value-adding in food processing is stronger than ever before.”

Several strong typhoons visited the country in 2013, the strongest and most destructive of all being Typhoon Yolanda that pummeled Eastern and Western Visayas in November. These areas are major producers of high value crops such as coconut, abaca and rice.

In October, Typhoon Santi slammed into Northern and Central Luzon, destroying vast tracts of palay (unhushed rice) cultivation areas.

Other destructive storms that hit the country last year were Labuyo, Odette and Vinta.

Production in the crops subsector, which contributed 51.05 percent of the farm output, rose by 0.09 percent. Palay production grew by 2.26 percent while corn production fell by 0.40 percent.

Higher-year-on-year palay production was attributed to the expansion of harvest areas in Central Luzon, Caraga, Soccsksargen, Bicol Region, and ARMM.

Lower corn production, meanwhile, was lower due to moisture stress and a shift to oil palm cultivation in several areas.

Higher outputs were also noted for tobacco, onion, mango and cassava.

Lower output levels were noted for coconut, sugarcane, banana, coffee, abaca, peanut and calamansi.

The gross output of the crops subsector was valued at P814.7 billion at current prices, up by 2.13 percent year-on-year.

Production in the livestock subsector rose 1.75 percent, accounting for 16.23 percent of the total farm output for 2013.

Hog and cattle production grew 1.95 percent and 1.76 percent respectively.

Dairy production rose 5.47 percent year-on-year.

The subsector grossed at P233.2 billion, up 8.2 percent year-on-year.

Production in the poultry sector rose 4.20 percent in 2013, contributing 14.76 percent to the total farm production for the year.

Chicken production was the major source of growth for the subsector during the period, growing 5.01 percent.

The poultry subsector production grossed at P174.2 billion, up 4.31 percent from a year ago.

The fisheries subsector recovered from negative growth in 2012, with production expanding 1.23 percent in 2013.